Brooks Nature Area

05/22/2026

Have you read Birds with Seth's trip report from our World Migratory Bird Day hike? It is such a beautiful capture of a wonderful day and full of great info about Brooks, warblers, and how to support birds in migration. Check it out, and more photos from the event, here!

We celebrated World Migratory Bird day in Calhoun County, MI! Read all about our adventures!

05/11/2026

What an incredible day at Brooks! Watching tree swallows dart and dive for insects, hearing a cuckoo, and getting a great look at a nesting bird box.

A huge thank you to Birds with Seth and Dale and Doug of Albion for sharing their knowledge and expertise with us on World Migratory Bird Day!

More photos and findings to come.

05/04/2026

The Eastern Bluebird. Just one of many birds that call Brooks Nature Area home.

Join us for World Migratory Bird Day to learn more about this beautiful species and get a glimpse at their nesting boxes along the trails.

Register for the morning Brooks Nature Area: World Migratory Bird Day Hike (Event 1) or come to the Brooks Nature Area: World Migratory Bird Day Presentation (Event 2) in the afternoon! See you there!

04/29/2026

One week ago, April 23, Blue Heron Ministries performed a prescribed burn at Brooks with favorable weather conditions. Prescribed burning is a land restoration practice learned from Indigenous communities across the US. The practice happens in the spring and is a working relationship between humans, land, and fire to increase biodiversity, create better habitat for many species and restore prairies and forests.

04/28/2026

Have you registered yet?

Join us and Birds with Seth for this guided hike and learn about the various ways we can support migratory birds on their journey through Brooks and our backyards!

Join Seth Chapman, local birder and mindfulness leader, for a morning migration hike!

04/27/2026

There is nothing quite like spring at the Brooks!

04/22/2026

Meet the presenters!

Dale and Doug will be sharing their knowledge and expertise with us at the Brooks Pavilion on World Migratory Bird Day, May 9, 2pm. Free and open to the public.

Dale and Doug have conducted research on cavity-nesting birds for over 40 years in New Jersey, Kansas, and Michigan. They are retired faculty members from the Biology Department at Albion College and continue to monitor 160 nest boxes in Whitehouse Nature Center (2026 will be their 32nd year in Albion). Dale is a Michigan Naturalist, Secretary for Jackson Audubon Society, and a past President of Wilson Ornithological Society. Doug serves on the Calhoun County Parks Commission.

04/20/2026

Meet our guide!

Seth will be guiding a hike through the Brooks for World Migratory Bird Day on May 9. Details and registration here: www.birdswithseth.com/events.

“Seth's interest in birds dates back to his childhood. Growing up in Allegan, MI, he spent many days outdoors, dressed in full exploration gear; a pair of rubber boots, a safari-style vest with lots of pockets and netting to carry things like magnifying glasses and binoculars, a safari hat, a notepad split into two columns to tally "birds" and "squirrels", and most of all, a sense of curiosity. Seth has a true passion for birds and birding, and for sharing his passion through the lens self-awareness, self-discovery, and wellness.”

Learn more about Seth and connect with him at www.birdswithseth.com.

04/18/2026

The birds are in motion!

On World Migratory Bird Day, May 9, we’ll be tuning in to the lives of the winged creatures who travel all over the world and through our neighborhoods. Click the event links below, and don’t forget to formally register and purchase your ticket for Event #1 at https://www.birdswithseth.com/events.

Brooks Nature Area: World Migratory Bird Day Hike (Event 1)
Brooks Nature Area: World Migratory Bird Day Presentation (Event 2)

02/10/2026

Oh, the magic of the night sky!

Thank you to BNA board member, Lauren, for sharing this wonderful series of photos from Saturday's Luminary Hike. Beautiful.